Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has what jokers may call bulalo (boiled beef or pork with vegetables) problem, but it’s not keeping her from blasting away at her enemies in a money quarrel in the Senate.

Her office said on Saturday that Santiago had been diagnosed with “a slow bone marrow,” a condition that results in low blood cell count.

But she remained quick on the draw, calling her enemies “toxic people” whom she should avoid to prevent another spike in her blood pressure.

“I am quarantined from certain toxic people, and I am sequestered from political news. I may as well be shot,” Santiago said in a statement.

According to her staff, Santiago suffered a mild stroke last week after a television interview where she discussed the supposed impropriety of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s release to selected senators of P1.6 million in additional funds for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) as 2012 ended.

Santiago welcomed the opportunity to rest and spend time with her granddaughters.

Emotional exchanges and insults have punctuated the senatorial quarrel over the propriety and legality of Enrile’s giving away public funds and the controversy threatens to sidetrack pieces of priority legislation in the Senate as Congress returns from Christmas break tomorrow.

Constitutionality

Enrile and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the chair of the Senate committee on accounts, have explained the regularity of the release of the funds, but Santiago has not stopped questioning the constitutionality of giving away taxpayer money.

Santiago, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV each received only P600,000 plus a P250,000 cash gift, while the rest of the senators, all allies of Enrile, got P1.6 million each in additional MOOE in December.

Santiago said she returned the cash gift. At the start of the new year she began to snipe at Enrile and his allies who defended him.

Former national police chief Lacson stepped into the fray and this week began casting doubt on Santiago’s own propriety, calling her “a crusading crook.”

Then he let fly with a story about a senator who used Senate funds to pay for the wages of household helpers and pay for groceries and repairs to a building the senator owned.

It’s up to COA

On Saturday Lacson said it was up to the Commission on Audit (COA) to look into how the senators spent the funds for their offices.

Lacson said he would submit to the COA documents that he had gathered in connection with the alleged misuse of public funds by one of his colleagues.

“I heard that [COA Chair Grace Pulido-Tan] has spoken. She’s encouraged by the ‘positive’ reactions from a number of senators regarding the special audit,” Lacson told the Inquirer.

Earlier, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said the Senate would pass as many bills as it could before Congress goes into recess in the second week of February to give way to the campaign for the May midterm elections.

Congress will return on June 5, and adjourns on June 7.

In a statement, Enrile said the Senate would try to enact measures “that would address the country’s economic and social difficulties.”

“It is the Senate’s task to anticipate the needs of a nation. Every senator is looked upon to solve an immediate concern, proposing to solve it in a manner beneficial to all,” Enrile said.

“I’m excited to attend the session on Monday to see what will happen,” Sen. Francis Escudero said on Thursday before Enrile and Santiago separately announced a ceasefire.

“As I said, after the privilege hour [during which senators can speak on a point of personal or collective privilege], after [speeches have been] delivered by [the members] of the Senate, I hope there will still be time left on the first day of session to tackle pending bills,” Escudero said.

Will she be there?

Santiago said in an earlier statement that she was seriously considering the advice of her doctors that she skip the resumption of session tomorrow lest she suffer either another stroke or a heart attack.

According to her staff, Santiago was recovering from the mild stroke when she was diagnosed on Friday with a slow bone marrow.

Santiago underwent a series of blood tests at the Philippine Heart Center, and the results showed that she has abnormally low red blood cells and low hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to all parts of the body.

It is said that when a person’s hemoglobin level is low, the blood cannot carry an adequate supply of oxygen, causing fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and other symptoms.

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http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4R3GZTGML26TV2VGS6RVHP2THM Fred

Is there an attempt to revise the administration of MOOE?
Can not each Congressman and Senator submit itemized expenses, for budget purposes, on what maintenance? Can they also specify other operating expenses?
Nakakahiya kayo!

For the issue about “Savings-to-MOOE irregularities”, I’m a fan to this senator for standing tall against the initiator of this fiasco. While the rest of the senate are silent, confirming their approval to the shameful deed and enjoying the “gift”. She voices her disagreement and takes the cudgel for the poor. Taking the side of the offended common people, she blasted on the pitiless crocs disguised as servants of the people but with a tremendously hungry stomach. She may be feeling the cost of this to her but don’t expect her to run away and abandon her people. To her, they are worth dying too.

Seeking redress to his “padulas” among his collegues closed to his heart, and now tackling economic difficulties this country is facing is absurd, plain hypocrisy and stupidity. You can fool people once but not all the time. This Enrile had temerity to concerned himself for the poor after what he had done – yet lacking sensitivity and genuine advocacy for the less fortunate. May your tribe decrease.

$15469930

How would you expect enrile to do the right thing. He will bring the down the economy by giving away public fund for his own benefits. Enrile should be remove and take him to lolong….

Emilio

Let’s face it. The senators have lost their credibility to the Filipino people. The issue of the 1.6 million xmas gift is now in Newsweek. It is a shame not only for the senators, but also for the Filipino voter for voting them into office. People have always asked the question why actors, lawyers, comedians, journalist , and their kins, want to become senators. Now the cat is out of the bag. Money, money, and plenty of money, and more money to be had. There is no shortage of money in the senate, and all u have to do is just sit down and attend meetings, and maybe once in a while stand up and go to the toilet so people will know you are still alive.

zeroko

Hindi mo ba nahahalata na majority or 90% of our Senators has 101% Chinese blood? Pati si Trillianes, the noted Back Door unofficially a Diplomat is a Chinese! Beware! This is the last stage of Chinese takeover. The Chinese is fast buying our land.

Then our Senate and the Lower House will fast track the legalization of Chinese to own our land. Remember, no other than Senate President Enrile and House Speaker Belmonte Jr. proposes to legalize 100% Chinese ownership to our businesses. Ano na lang tayo, mga alipin? A nation of slaves, a nation of uto-uto! We do not even fight for our rights? Na out-source lahat ng private jobs, which is illegal to the International labor rules, yet, we allowed these Chinese in the three branches of our government, the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary to just push us around?

Even Aguinaldo and Rizal have chinese blood. Do research on our heroes and you will see that your argument is worthless. We’ve been exposed too long to foreign influence that somewhere in ones lneage an ancestor has intermarried with foreign blood. There is no such thing as 100% Filipino. Unless, one is an aborigini or have been living in a cave.

The cat is out of the bag ! Now we know how dirty our lawmakers are enriching themselves with taxpayers money, unmindful of the agony of the many poor people suffering from poverty. So much money has already gone into their pockets ! Mahiya na man kayo ! ! !

There’ll be more dirty laundries like this exposed on every newspapers in our country. Not only will it carry the news about how these dirt bags continue coning and fleecing the poor people of this country. But you know what?????? It will continue because the Filipino, all 90 million of us are too scared and too polite to tell these squeeze bags to stop doing their looting or we will be there in front of congress with torches in hand,

NEILMCNALLY

I have already advocated that only a people-powered bloody revolution will purge the country of the worst of the corrupt,contemptible scum who reside here in Pilipinas.It would take many innocent folks’ lives also,but that would be the unfortunate unavoidable collateral damage.There is no other legal/moral way to purge this woeful country of the vermin within.
However,as shown by other revolutions(e.g.French),the tyrants seem to be replaced with equally despicable people armed with other ways to oppress their own people.
Still..worth a risk,I say..who’s for starting the big “R”?

daniboy2012

this form of govt we have now is corrupt…..there must be at an altertative!!!

ever green

Its not the form of government that is inherently corrupt. Its the people who form the government…..What needs to be changed is the culture of corruption….well ….easier said than done…..

rjimenez1226

The corruption of these people have led us to where we are. just look at the city of Manila . It is ugly and smells of the stench of corruption . Enrile for a long time should have been jailed already. This is the result of a corrupt military and corrupt bureaucracy.

becivilized

Since when and for how long did Sen. Ping Lacson knew that one of his colleagues used Senate funds to pay for the wages of household helpers and pay for groceries and repairs to a building the senator owned? Can Sen. Ping Lacson tell the public with utmost honesty why only now that this has been made an issue? Though the concerned senator is not named, but obviously, Sen Miriam Santiago is the one alluded to.

This controversy between Enrile and Santiago is plain “pera-pera” lang. If Santiago received P2.6 Million, would she bark at Enrile? Were her MOE expenses covered with receipts. COA said Senators’ expenses of MOE were supported only with a Certification issued by the Senator concerned. If Santiago’s expenses were not also receipted, then Senator Lacson must be correct in calling her a “crusading crook.” Actually, from the beginning, Miriam is a creation of Media. She is always quoted for her colorful language. But no in-depth reports were written about her deeds. When she was a Judge, she was called a “hanging judge.” Did she ever convict a rich accused? How about her stint as Commissioner of Immigration? Was her record perfectly good?

popeyee

Her expose’ on how the senate spend the tax payers’ money is one thing, Miriam’s records is another thing…

Like it or not, Senator Santiago’s expose is something that the common people need ot know and we should be glad we have one in the Senate that is not afraid of the consequences of her actions. That is something we’re missing in the Lower House.
The more we’re informed, the more intelligent decision we can arrived at, come Election time.

hope her sickness would reverse her ill-leeeee mental health…. from lunar mind to solar mind….

Fulpol

Senate, served her a vaccine.. media, served her early obituary..

stay in Senate, Meriam…. stay away from media…

we love you Meriam… the Senate loves you..

okabato

Senator Mirriam has a new distinction in the senate hall. The only female senator called a crusading crook by Sen. Lacson. If she will let this passed without defending herself it is going to stick with her name forever.

jga94

This just goes to show how important the FOI Bill is…..Right to know, Right now….

JosengSisiw1

Yeah that’s how the senate should do it…have a CEASEFIRE and SHUT UP thier mouths or else people will know more about their stinking corrupt traditions.

http://www.facebook.com/jtpenton Musta Na Mo

many thanks to Sen. Merriam people knows even FOI wasn’t supported by the president.

opinyonlangpo

For these high government officials, emotional matters are more of priority than their so called priority legislation or national issues. Go on fight it out.

I’d say Madam Santiago should attend all sessions of the Senate and to continue her fight against graft and corruption against other members of the Senate. Wastful use of the people’s money should be stop at all cost. Our congress has abused their position for a long time. It is encumbent upon all of us to demand fromall our government officials honesty, integrity, responsibility and above all, accountability.

doublecross

unbalance ang check-and balance….kelan kaya kayo mag-bago!

Beguine

It seems Miriam is not getting any healthier or younger, so it’s
her choice whether she wants to live a bit longer, or die raging
against Enrile and the likes of Enrile.

That’s also tantamount to raging against herself, for there are similarities
between herself and Enrile and the likes of Enrile, after all.

AlexanderAmproz

REAL POLITICS

She is old enough,

her future is behind,

it will be a cheap sacrifice,

In comparison with so many children’s death she was not able to avoid,

mostly by pure personal interests and selfishness !

elites na elites

To be or not to be, Trapos na Trapos !

Never too late to do good !

http://profile.yahoo.com/5BXQPQHMKTOFR5SGW3PE5JFV5U Florita

It’s time for the Filipino people to wake up. Soon it will be election time. I hope our people will not waste their sacred votes to re-elect trapos or their kins who want to be in the government office to make their pockets fat. Filipinos wake up please…

m1600

whenever you like her or not she is a national treasure 100 yrs from now pag uusapan pa di yang si Miriam. LOL

AlexanderAmproz

100 yrs. from now,
let me hope the National Hero Cemetery will be turned into a Basura site.

Maitum

The sweetness of an Ilongga is devoid of Merriam…

RomyLitz

Miriam you should continue your crusade against Enrile.Who knows your doctor is playing double crossing. He’s pro UNA…get another 2nd opinion or 3rd to be sure…Heavens will sing and dance the moment you speak of the hypocrite corrupt politicians…go go continue holding the lance against corruptions.Your big unlimited mouth is heaven-designed to penetrate the hardest armor these politicians are using as their shields like distribution of 1.6 million pesos to each senators except the fantastic FOUR !!

well, absolutely right, but hinay-hinay lang. i think there are still a lot that we should hear from madam miriam. she is the right person who could uncover everything from our very honest politicians. sabi nga nila barya barya lang itong 1.6M. i could only wish this senators will give this money to our typhoon victims sa mindanao . . . sana ma-konsienya naman itong mga ito. . . .

AlexanderAmproz

I have a tendency to believe that the International help will vanished into thin air across the Administration with the Lion share on the top, as usual !

vilmavee

Madam Miriam, please do not let this old dirty thief off the hook. It is time for him to be exposed and be convicted for the many crimes he committed against our people and nation. I cannot help but be so angry with this Enrile because of the great sufferings he has caused our people down south due to ever rising flood. Remember, that during his stewardship of the AFP, he used its helicopters to haul illegal logs to his lumberyard for export to Japan. The pilots were paid by the government to service the greed of this man. And now our forests are so denuded, it cannot stop landslide and flooding. Oh, he did not include that in his memoirs?

Madam, perhaps you can write a book on the greed of Enrile. I would be the first in line to buy that book.

peach black

“Let’s face it. The senators have lost their credibility to the Filipino people. The issue of the 1.6 million xmas gift is now in Newsweek.”
And look what happened to Newsweek. Magsasara na. Last issue na nila this month.

AlexanderAmproz

In any “normal” democratic county they will be dismiss “En Block” and under arrest.

Only da Philippines they can continue to insult their constituents, planing killings and plunder.

The best Killer and Thief will be the most respected !

Is it the way to attract foreign investments, let me doubt about it…

rjgc

I fell in love with Immigration Commissioner Miriam when I was fifteen, a high school student. Seeing her battle Enrile et al now is reviving that love.